BATHURST has shined in the end-of-season Mitchell Cricket Council awards for 2019-20 with Henry Shoemark, Cooper Brien and Graeme Glazebrook almost giving the district a sweep of the prizes.
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Following an improved season at representative level, which included a championship-winning innings, Shoemark was named the Senior Player of the Year.
Brien earned the Junior Player of the Year title for another brilliant season of play, highlighted by his match-high knock of 64 in the Western Zone Under 18s final.
Glazebrook has been a recurring winner of umpiring awards across the region and his latest Carl Sharpe Memorial prize adds to his impressive collection.
Shoemark said it was a pleasant surprise to come away with the major senior prize.
"I had a good season but it was pretty surprising to win this. It would have been a tough race to win this one because there would have been a fair few up there. I feel pretty lucky," he said.
"I was really happy with how I played. I was pretty consistent but there's just a few scores under 10 that I'm trying to get out of my game. Once I get past that I'm looking pretty solid.
"Not giving away that early chance is something that I'll keep working on."
The defining moment of the season for the City Colts batsman came in the Western Zone Premier League final where his unbeaten 67 runs paved the way for Bathurst's premiership.
I had a good season but it was pretty surprising to win this.
- Henry Shoemark on being named Senior Player of the Year
Things got off to a shaky start at WZPL for Shoemark with an opening round score of 4 but from there he never looked back.
He went on to record scores of 43, 39 and 18 not out across the remaining games leading up to the final.
Shoemark also picked up a handy 19 runs for Bathurst in their Mitchell T20 Cup finals win over Orange.
Other highlights from the season for Shoemark include his last round century in Bathurst Orange Inter District Cricket and three other half centuries throughout the competition.
He was among the short list of nine players to finish with four or more scores above 50.
Shoemark said the WZPL will forever be a great cricketing memory.
"There was a lot of pressure there in a big game and a big situation after losing a couple of quick wickets," he said.
"It felt great to be out there to finish the job off and not just throw that wicket away."
Colts didn't have a memorable season of cricket in BOIDC but Shoemark said it was still a great experience to face new competition, and already looks forward to the 2020-21 edition.
"I think it's a great competition. It's great having new teams and new grounds," he said.
"I think it's a competition that's only going to get better as we move forward."
Outside of his big performance in the WZ Under 18s decider Brien also shone in the local competition.
He saved his best BOIDC performance for the semi-final meeting against CYMS where he toughed out 77 runs from 161 deliveries in a show of patient cricket alongside teammate Andrew Brown (45 from 173 balls).
Brien notched up two other half centuries earlier in the season, proving in the process that he's got a lot to already offer at the senior level for Bathurst cricket.
Orange's Blake Weymouth was named the Colts Player of the Year.